Problem 1: (GregorySeriesLimit.java)
The number pi (3.14159...) can not be expressed as a simple ratio of two numbers. Instead, the value of pi is typically calculated by summing up the terms of an infinite number series. As more and more terms in the series are evaluated, the sum approaches the true value of pi. One series that can be used for this purpose is called the Gregory series, which computes the value of pi as follows:
pi = 4/1  4/3 + 4/5  4/7 + 4/9  4/11 +
Observe that the numeric values of the terms of the series get smaller and smaller as the calculation progresses. For example, the value of the 1st term is 4/1 = 4, the 2nd term is 4/3 = 1.333 , the 3rd term is 4/5 = 0.8, and so on.
Write a program that calculates the value of pi using the Gregory series. The input to the program will be a decimal value called limit. The program shall proceed to calculate the value of pi by summing up the terms of the series, but only until such time that the value of the term being summed becomes less than or equal to the value of limit, at which point the program terminates the summation. Thus, the last term of the series that is added to the sum is the first term whose value is less than or equal to the value of limit.
The program then prints out the calculated value of pi at that point, as well asthe actual number of terms that were summed up by the calculation.

while (pi <= limit) { //Im not sure on what should be my loop statement

if (add) {

pi += 4 / divisor; //loop to add

} else {

pi -= 4 / divisor; //loop to subtract

}

divisor += 2; // add two to divisor

add = !add; //change to subtract>add>subtract.....

term++; //add one to term

}

System.out.println("Calculated Value of pi: " + pi);

System.out.println("Number of terms used: " + term);

}

}

08-03-2011, 03:57 PM

Norm

Try debugging your code by Adding some printlns to your code to show how the values of variables are changing.

08-03-2011, 04:27 PM

Rami

Quote:

Originally Posted by kissmeeq

this is my problem:

while (pi <= limit) { //Im not sure on what should be my loop statement

}

It should not be pi<=limit
it should be 4/divisor>=limit

08-03-2011, 04:29 PM

Norm

only until such time that the value of the term being summed becomes less than or equal to the value of limit,
4/divisor > limit

08-03-2011, 04:30 PM

Rami

In your case, it will enter the loop ONLY when pi<=limit (which happens for the 1st time you enter which is because pi is initialized to zero) then the next loop it finds pi=4 (the first term) and term =2.. So, it terminates.
One more thing, term should be initialized to 0 not 1..